Hawaiian music has been played in our family since Pat's dad started the waikiki Islanders in 1937, BUT even as immersed in it as we are, I have, as yet, been unable to get to play with the exact feel for the lyrics that the 'Hawaiians' do.

The current trend towards "Ricky Ticky" burlesque type Hawaiian music is retrograde IMHO, Some of the Stateside players of the late 30's through to the late 50's had what the rest of the world outside the USA generally perceive as Hawaiian style.

The general perception of Hawaiian Music throughout Europe is based on what has been heard initially from the Felix Mendelssohn, George De Fretes' Royal Hawaiian Minstrels, Harry Hougassian, Marcel Bianchi, and from the 'Hawaii Calls" era players , probably more specifically the Alfred Apaka, Jules Ah see, Barney Isaacs jr. etc
Mahi Beamer was played frequently by the BBC in the early 60's. Far removed from the 'Hollywood Hawaiian of the Felix's and De fretes style. Hawaiian language and in falsetto!!. He sold quite few albums over here.

In the UK and Holland there are MANY active groups playing regular gigs.

So Whist in Hawaii you may see Hawaiian Music as chants and Percussion (And quite rightly so), there is a very large portion of the world that sees it ENTIRELY from a different standpoint.

I don't need to be able to play violin to recognise a master, so the fact that I play steel guitar is irrelevant, I'm talking about what I can HEAR.

Oh I forgot to mention the Hawaiian Music players in Japan, mainly Happa Haole,
and what about the Hula schools with an estimated 400,000 people involved in teaching and learning, again teaching all styles but the most popular being `auana (Modern style) To tunes like Lovely Hula Hands, Keep your Eyes on the Hands Hanalei Moon et al.

[This message was edited by basilh on 03 July 2006 at 02:40 AM.]

From November 2005 'Aloha Dream'

..................................................................
Page 2

I partake in another Hawaiian art form that's been heavily influenced by the haole, but not one Hawaiian has complained as of yet! Surfing.

Prior to the haole's encrouchment upon the sport of surfing, it was a recreational activity reserved for Hawaiian nobility. The riders in those days rode boards up to 24 feet in length, approximatley 2 feet wide, and weighing up to 200 pounds. You basically took off and went straight into shore. The end.

Enter Haole. Developed surfboards made of fiberglassed poly foam. Add fins for cutting the face of the wave. Surf breaks never possible with ancient designs. Sport now bears scant resemblance to its forebearers.

Where's the backlash?

There were still a few Hawaiian surfers on the waves c.1970 when Jerry came to the islands, but they didn't care to share their knowledge much. Folks came to Waikiki from around the world and wondered where all the surfers were, finding almost none. But JB showed up and proved to the few remaining boarders that he too could read the water, was totally fearless, could do all the cool moves, score the babes/party like hell/fight the blalas AND was willing to teach the kids how to do it so they could become professionals thus promoting their favorite sport to the max, plus show them all the secrets that the locals wouldn't.

Today you can find surfing everywhere.

Thanx Jerry, surfs up!

[This message was edited by Ron Whitfield on 03 July 2006 at 08:22 PM.]

Jeff? Anyone?

quote:

---

In my opinion one mp3 is a hokey early-electric "Hollywood Hawaiian" caricature

---

And I thought it was a "tribute" tune ...

Well folks, if y'all don't consider this clip ... from a Haole "Immersed" in New Jersey Culture ...

... to be "authentic" Hawaiian Style Steel Guitar playin' ...

Kakaako Rag

Then please post a clip that is ...

------------------

Hawaiian Steel Stuff
The Casteels

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 05 July 2006 at 09:40 AM.]

But for now, suffice it to say that here is the way I look at it now; imho:

A Musician doesn't have to be of Hawaiian blood nor of Local character to play Hawaiian Music ...nor even be from Hawaii ...nor even have to ever visit Hawaii. Why? Because the majority of influences and even Musicians that have comprised what has been considered to be Hawaiin Music at any given time in it's history, have been in great part by people of non-Hawaiian ancestry. The very definition(s) of Hawaiian Music depends upon the perspectives of the definer ...and are often contradictory. Many HAWAIIANS today (although not all) profess that new modern Hawaiian Music (such as some modern Hawaiian Music referenced in this SGF discussion) reaching far outside the past traditional "molds" and far outside the cultural borders of Hawaii, is as much Hawaiian as is/was more-traditional Hawaiian Music of the past. So the definition of Hawaiian Music, even by many Hawaiians and Locals, is not contingent upon Hawaiian ancestry, but upon very broad and often contradictory interpretations that would be quite difficult if not impossible to compile into a mutually agreeable definition; As is also demonstrated in the different perspectives of this SGF discussion. On the other hand I think it fair to say that Music across the planet recognizeable as Hawaiin, can be traced to elements originating in Hawaii that are quite apparant, and seemingly "magical" to a vast number of people for a long time.

BUT playing LIKE Hawaiians and/or Locals is a totally different matter; And after sorting out the different perspectives of what Hawaiian Music and playing like a Hawaiin / Local means, ...I think I finally understand what Jeff has been saying in the soup of those different perspectives. ~~~~~~~ (Not putting words in Jeff's mouth ...but my own views): Hawaiians and Local Musicians who have been deeply exposed to the indigenous Local (and not neccessarily native Hawaiian) culture of Hawaii, do indeed have their own unique cultural experiences and insights that give their delivery of Hawaiian Music a grand and distinct character that (imho) is quite difficult if not impossible to acquire and deliver without quite similar cultural experiences and insights. And again, that "magic" enters the picture. And after pondering this SGF discussion, I am now more inclined to agree with Local Musicians that lay claim to some undefined character in the Music and style they have learned to play. Even Jerry Byrd contended that Hawaiians were the most musical people on the planet.

So I think it quite fair to say that (1) a Musician doesn't have to be Hawaiian to play from the vast and varied "catalogue" of different Hawaiian Music styles, ...even authentic Hawaiian Music, but; (2) A Musician will most likely have to have rather deep experiential exposure to Local culture, Local Musicians and Local Music to play Hawaiian Music LIKE Hawaiian / Local Musicians, and; (3) If a Musician desires to play Hawaiian music more authentically (from whatever of the many perspectives that might be), then he/she will most likely have to become emersed in studies, and discussions like this one, to find the techniques and nuances that make up the perspective they seek.

And I can assure you that even though I've lived and played in Hawaii for 25 years, I still can't even come close to playing Hawaiian Music LIKE an accomplished Hawaiian / Local Musician, ...but love it dearly. But so what????; None of them can play like I do either, ...and most of them that I've been exposed to desire to learn as much from me (and others) as I desire to learn from them (and others). My (and many Others') opinion has always been like J. Byrd's: Strive to play like yourself, not like someone else; Which doesn't negate the importance for serious and/or professional Musicians to strive to be the best they can in whatever styles of Music they desire to seriously play. And Jerry rose to the penacle of doing just that, ...with great contributions to and influences / definition upon Hawaiian Music; His worldwide recognition and reputation standing as testiment against contrary arguement. ...While I remain just an average serious Musician sweeping the shop floor, and enjoying almost every minute of it.

Aloha,
DT~

[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 09 July 2006 at 06:34 AM.]